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Walt Disney World this morning officially crowned Merida from Disney/Pixar’s “Brave” as the 11th Disney Princess. Her coronation ceremony fittingly took place in front of Cinderella Castle, just steps away from her own Magic Kingdom meet-and-greet spot.

Just after the theme park opened, Princess Merida was joined for the first time by all ten of her fellow royals, Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Jasmine, Belle, Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana, and Rapunzel, welcoming her to the group. And for the first time ever, Merida’s mother Queen Elinor made a theme park appearance, just in time for Mother’s Day.

The group was also joined on stage by U.S.A. Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Gabby Douglas and her mother, introducing the event.

Video: Full Merida coronation ceremony as 11th Disney Princess

Before the ceremony began, child stars Sophie Grace and Rosie (of “The Ellen Show” fame) performed a rap song on stage, charming the crowd with their cuteness.

Video: Sophia Grace and Rosie rap in front of Cinderella CastleUPDATE (5/16/13)
Here’s the segment Sophia Grace and Rosie were taping at Walt Disney World for “The Ellen Show”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjitenoqpgk

Then Gabby Douglas and her mom said a few words about the important relationship between mothers and daughters before the attention was turned to the Disney Princess Royal Court.

Each Disney Princess was introduced individually, taking a moment to pose for pictures before the star of today’s coronation showed up.

Then Merida arrived in style on horseback, leading a Scottish procession of drummers, bagpipers, and dancers.

(Photo by Jeff Curtis)

Video: Merida processional for coronation at Walt Disney World

Once on stage, Queen Elinor came out from Cinderella Castle and placed the crown atop Merida’s head and giving her a warm motherly embrace.

After that, Merida showed off her outspoken personality, exclaiming “I am Merida and I am a princess!”

Following the coronation ceremony, Elinor brought Merida her bow and all 11 Disney Princesses gathered for the first time together on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime photo moment – or at least until the 12th princess comes along.

Video: All 11 Disney Princesses gather together for the first time

The event was put on by Disney Consumer Products as Merida joins the Disney Princess merchandise line. At the Disney Social Media Moms conference also taking place this weekend, DCP showed off a variety of “Brave” related toys and other kids’ products.

Much controversy has surrounded Merida’s crowning since we first revealed the plans along with her new Disney Princess look. Many people have becomeoutraged at Merida’s new 2D look that Disney Consumer Products has developed to use on packaging and advertising for select merchandise in the Disney Princess line.

Some have cited the new look’s seemingly higher cheekbones, heavier makeup, better groomed hair, thinner waistline, and exposed shoulders as an unnecessary makeover for Merida, making her conform to society’s view on beauty.

And Merida own creator “Brave” co-director Brenda Chapman has taken issue, calling the makeover “atrocious,” saying Disney “should be ashamed of themselves.”

UPDATE (5/15/13): Disney has reached out to officially comment on the Merida controversy, stating the 2D new look was intended for a “limited” use only.

But Merida is Pixar’s first princess. As such, others defended the new look, simply noting that it’s designed to match the look of the other Disney Princess characters – to make them all appear as if they stepped out of the same world instead of differing across decades of artistic styles. Snow White animated in the ’30s certainly has a very different look than computer-generated Merida and Rapunzel of today’s films.

Regardless of her new Princess packaging look, Merida remains a feisty Scottish tomboy in Disney’s theme parks, her appearance at today’s coronation no different than when she first debuted in the parks more than a year ago.

Guests visiting Walt Disney World can now look forward to meeting Princess Merida, officially part of the small – but growing – group of Disney royalty.

Owner and Editor of Inside the Magic. Since growing up in Miami, Florida and ultimately moving to Orlando after college, Ricky has become an expert on Central Florida's many theme parks and attractions. He founded Inside the Magic in 2005.

rebecca

I’m disappointing at how sexualized Merida is, she doesn’t need to be thinner, have her shoulders showing, paler, and have obscenely ridiculous hips/bust/waist ratio! I realize they’re changing things a bit to “fit in” but what is done to the viewers, the little girls that see the changes? How did Merida have to change to become a 2D princess? How do little girls get the idea that THEY have to change to “fit in”?

I just think we need to be sending women and girls the message that they are a “princess” and wonderful, and smart and talented no matter what they look like, and that changing to “fit in” to “be a princess” is wrong.

Tom

Don’t worry about our girls. Worry about our boys, who are bombarded with Iron Man, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, all men with big muscles and who use macho force to achieve what they want. Not to mention they treat women like delicate objects who need to be rescued. Bash THESE movies, for God’s sake.

Ash

Tom, I think you’ve gone a bit off topic. Rebecca is responding to the sexualization of young girls on a forum about a new princess being more sexualized to fit in with other princesses. You have no way of knowing her feelings about the over-masculanization of boys. Your comment seems unfair and inappropriately assuming.
Unrealistic gender stereotypes are something both genders are struggling with and rather than playing the “who has it worse game”, maybe you should join in solidarity with people like Rebecca and try to end these unrealistic marketing schemes business keeps selling us. Ultimately, it’s up to parents and families to provide positive role models for their children of either gender and encourage them to be healthy, but not fictionalized and unrealistic.

Ash

This is also a very assuming comment. A parent who is worried about the sexualization of the most well known children’s brand, Disney, is also likely concerned with child pageants as well. By voicing her concern, Rebecca is displaying her good parenting. If this had been an article about child pageants, she probably would have commented about child pageants. I think you’re being unreasonably accusatory and aggressive over the subject. You should apologize for holding her to a standard when you know nothing about her.

Bella

My daughter seen the New 2D Look & asked if that was Merida all GROWN UP?
I said yes, what was I supposed to tell her, a 5yr old notices the difference. Now she wants to now when the New Grown Up Movie of Brave will be out!!!!

Ash

This can actually be a good thing. You now have a venue for discussing positive gender roles with your daughter and emphasizing that strength of character and personal achievement matters more than Merida new grown up look. Don’t focus on her body so much as what Merida represents as a positive role model for girls through her individualism and character.

Lola

Well if the new ‘2D’ look is only to match the princesses together and to sell merchandise, than we won’t be buying anymore Disney crap. If all the females are made to look same, then what makes them different?

Nikki

Merida hadn’t seen her suitors when she argued with her mother about marriage. It had nothing to do with the guys. The fact that at the end, she admits her mistake, I think its a good example for children. Admitting your mistakes doesn’t make you any less and in turn, could mend a broken relationship.

Bella

You need to watch the movie again if this is what you think.
It is about a girl that wants to command her own life, not marry like all girls are expected to do, it has nothing to do with the looks of the suitors. Mulan or Pocahontas was not changed to a older sexy version.

Kitty

@Bella
I feel that lot of people are putting a modern interpretation on Merida’s actions which is why we praise it. Rejecting an arranged marriage is something we see as a sign of strength…. but we’re not actual Princesses in feudal Scotland.

IF Merida were an actual person living in the culture depicted in the fictional film then, as royalty, she actually does have an obligation to do whats necessary to maintain her bloodline. King Fergus wasn’t elected, he inherited his position just as Merida will. So by making a choice to marry the local butcher or not marry at all does actually have consequences for her clans future.

Sure, it sounds silly and disgusting to us to marry one of the rival clans dopey boys but we don’t live in that era so our ideas of right and wrong are inconsequential.

[BTW. Merida’s attempt to “command her own life” isn’t something to be praised because of “how” she did it. She found a witch in hopes to use a curse that would force her own personal will onto her mothers. Thats pretty darn evil, and the ONLY reason she felt remorse is because it backfired on her.

My little girl can watch the movie all she wants, but there’s no message in there that I feel is appropriate for her because her strength and independence will come from my teaching and not from a film intended to entertain.]

ginger

Fauna

Merida is actually a very good role model, she is childish (little girls can understand her better), she made mistakes, realizes her mistake, fixes it and is better now. Marriage isn’t something you should talk that early to your child about is it??

ashley

So a cross dresser who doesn’t listen to her father and one who doesn’t listen to her father and then decides to leave with him (who isn’t even him) to another continent and change completely alright WAY better role models than a princess who took charge and change years of outdated tradition and admits she was wrong and loves her mother OKAY I completely understand NOT

Kelly

All I have to say is I am highly disappointed in Disney for how they are all of a sudden changing Merida’s innocents and sexualizing her. Just leave her the way she is in the movie. Young girls need this role model, it teaches them to love themselves as they are and except themselves and to love their family and keep their bonds mended because family is so very important.

Kitty

I have to say that I hate when people use Disney Princesses as the female equivalent of “Video games teach your sons to shoot people”.

Yes, In Disney movies then Princesses are often depicted as gorgeous innocent teens who’s sole ambition seems to be to find Prince Charming. BUT, as a former little girl myself, the memories I have of those films were never sexual or even about finding a Prince of my own. And thats because they are nothing but entertainment.

So in the same way that hours behind a Nintendo controller didn’t make my brother grow up to be a serial killer, my love for The Little Mermaid and Cinderella didn’t make me want to actually marry a prince. So all this worry about the dangers of “Party Mode Merida” to our little girls is just silly. IF they love Merida then its because of what she does and not only how she looks.

EricJ

I remember when the regime changed from Eisner to Lasseter, right while they were in the middle of producing “Enchanted”, public Disney princess-hate turned to nostalgic Disney princess-love, and Eisner’s Shrek-paranoid attempt to make a movie lambasting Disney princesses had to be turned into a movie in praise of them, to keep up with the times.
So, in was inserted the running pro-princess jokes of the single dad who tried to teach his daughter good responsible female role models like Marie Curie (“She’s the dead one, right?”) only to find out, empower them all you want, 8-yo. girls will still want to meet Aurora. Or at the very least, Pocahontas.
What worse is…they’re right. It’s something that goes way beyond our cynical grownup ideas of princes, white horses and committed relationships, and more into the ideas of why little girls want to ride horses and learn to shoot arrows too. Disney understood that a lot more than the director did; presumably that’s what they’ll be selling at the parks, as well.

Ruth

Did anyone notice how similar the faces of the princesses are. I look a snow white and she definitely is not a good snow white. She should have a much rounder face. I think Disney hires character actresses that can play different princesses. But it does not work. The all have a fairly same face outline. I looked at the pictures and this really stood out to me. Also Pocahontas looks white can Disney not find a Native Indian to play this princess. I really think this is important. Jasmine is does not look East Asian. Why have princesses of different cultures if you are not going to have a person from that culture play the part. As for Merida I do not think she needed these changes. I think they aged her and maybe that is how she would look older? We all chose a princess we like either by her character or how she looks. Growing up I liked snow white because I looked most like her. I am very disappointed that Disney does not do a better job at his.

MH

Kitty

“Why have princesses of different cultures if you are not going to have a person from that culture play the part.”

Because its not that important. A little girl is 100x more likely to notice Jasmine’s costume is the wrong color before they notice that the face actor isn’t East Asian. And thats because Disney is fantastic at making unique costumes for their characters (Which is exctly why those vinylmations, POP figures or various toddler licenses are so effective. The costumes are so iconic that the face is inconsequential. And thats exactly why the Merida debate is silly. Even without the bow and the very slight alterations, we know EXACTLY who it is so whats the problem?

Hannah

I’m so excited that there’s finally a princess who doesn’t have the “perfect body” (thin, narrow hips,narrow face, high cheekbones, etc) I’m really glad that there’s finally a curvy princess who I can relate to!

Bella

EricJ

No, a marketer’s, and likely someone in Legal’s as well. (Might’ve been a female marketer/legal at that, who doesn’t eat meat or start wars in Iraq.) 😉
If you’ve ever picked up the children’s picture-books from ANY Pixar movie, you’ll notice the 2D images don’t really look like their 3D counterparts: The “licensed” 2D images of Woody, Jessie, Sully, etc., are often more stylized–the Toys are drawn to a 50’s-retro look, the Incredibles to a 60’s-action retro, Remy to a more Paris-jazzy abstract look, etc–as their “official” marketing image, as the CGI character would be a little too photorealistic to bring off. Pixar usually unveils the “marketing image” to be used in toys, books, clothes and anything where a “live” image of the character wouldn’t be used, it’s usually cuter, and just as copyrighted as the movie.
Of course, this’s the first time Pixar’s had a face character, and it’s hard enough to bring Alice or Wendy off in convincing pre-pubescence.

Roddy Barros

My own two cents, for what it’s worth:

Disney recently revamped the whole Princess line. They look younger, their bodies have less “features”. They’re almost clones of one another now. So if Merida is joining the line, she has to “fit the merchandising mold”, so to speak. It’s simply following the pattern. Compare Snow White in her movie to how she looks today; and yet no one is making a fuss about that. It seems to me people just NEED to complain about something… Brave, the movie, is still there, untouched, to serve as a “model” for whoever feel girls should aspire to that nowadays. And if they ever make “Brave 2″, you can be sure they’ll use the original model, not the “Disney Princesses” model.

Personally, I’d rather my daughter “looked up” more to the traditional princesses. Actually, Jasmine seems to me the perfect example of a princess that fought the norm without disrespecting her family and still looking forward to finding someone to share her life with. The way the “message” seems to be going now, it feels like they’re trying to teach young girls they’ll only be happy in life if they’re fighting, lonely tomboys. You know, like those “my body is my own” feminists that have been protesting naked everywhere? My wife, who’s an elementary school teacher, tries very hard to go against the grain on this daily with her students, tries to show them there’s nothing wrong with dreaming with a prince while making a life for themselves.

EricJ

It’s only our own grownup bitterness about bad dates or longterm commitments that make women in their 20’s and 30’s project “Cinderella poisoned my mind!” onto kids who would normally “eww!” at the idea of a kiss. The fact is, 8-yo. girls who idolize princesses are NOT doing it because they’re looking for boys…That won’t come till a long time later.
Boys don’t idolize superheroes because they want to go on wanton testosterone destruction–My own 9-yo. nephew had a preoccupation with Dash Incredible out of all the human Pixar characters, just because he was the “coolest”. The little girl who wants to wear her Cindy dress to the castle breakfast isn’t telling the world “Males, take away my future ten years later!”, she’s just doing what every child does–Dreaming of the moment, usually in a fantasy scenario, where they’ll get the chance to escape their nameless grind and show their Inner Stuff, whatever that stuff is. It might be the princess who gets to do really cool things like Jasmine, who gets to be with animals like Pocahontas, or who just gets to have the right dress and hair at the tea party like Aurora. In other words, they want the princess that already resembles THEM, as they see themselves, only at the age and in the right place when they finally get to do things.
Back in the 70’s, Disney had a monopoly on kids’ culture and looked twenty years out of date; that made it part of the Establishment, and feminists learned how to blame it for everything. That was a nice symbol back then, but we’ve got the movies on disk now, and kids have a chance to see the movies and KNOW why they like their character.

Glowrin

I honestly cannot believe that Merida was officially initiated into the line up. She is completely different from the other princesses. So every princess character in every Disney branch is going to join now? Shameful. Rapunzel didn’t even join that long ago. Now Merida. Apparently, there is this upcoming disney movie ‘Frozen’ and it will have a princess character named Anna who will also join. Slow down! Almost 12 princesses already and 4 have joined in only the last 5 years.

John

Fauna

AHAHAHAHAAHHA!!! Am I the only who’s laughing at how the princesses are walking with arms defying gravity??? I know it’s supposed to be like that, it looks magical, Disney-like, princess-y and sweet. It just looks hilarious.

Merida could have eaten apples while she’s walking, or have Snow White carry some apples and Merida snatches and eats it; or let Snow White give it to her and let her eat it. OH but then again, Snow White is famous for POISONED APPLES, not a very good idea after all :\

They SHOULD HAVE invited little girls who sings in theaters and sing Disney songs that WOULD BE, AND UNDOUBTEDLY MORE ENJOYABLE AND MAGICAL than rapping little girls.

ashley

It’s easier to have one mold for all than a new mold for each princess its less expensive and still gets the point across calm down or decide to pay way more for each princess then think about the children who want these dolls see no problem in it but their parents can’t afford to pay extra for a doll that didn’t need to be change in the first place everyone needs to calm down and realize that CHILDREN don’t think the way they do and sexualize EVERYTHING she’s just a princess to entertain children that’s it so stop medaling in the affairs of children and buy them their toys

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Based in Orlando, Florida, Inside the Magic was launched in 2005 by Ricky Brigante. The Inside the Magic podcast has since become the longest-running Disney podcast in the world, with a new show having been released every week since its inception.

InsideTheMagic.net still features our weekly podcast covering Disney and all theme park topics, also reaching out to grand openings, special events, conventions, travel, movies, and other pop culture excitement with exclusive interviews, news, high-quality videos, photos, reviews, and much more.